Stick to your guns: Halo 3

Halo 3 is an instant classic in an otherwise mediocre year for videogames. You are Master Chief, the marine who can save humankind. You kill thousands of space dudes who want to destroy humanity and, I suppose, the universe. Winning is all about finding the best guns lying around randomly (battlefields are strewn with weapons). This Halo comes with better energy-sword fights than before. You clash against a rival, and the swords stun you both. Good luck not dying.

Regular gamers will be satisfied playing just the nine levels of solo missions, because they are extravagantly drawn. But many fans are going right to the online multiplayers, where you compete on 11 huge battle maps.

Two new features live up to the hype. You can design parts of maps - not the locations but where weapons are placed and where you spawn back to life. And on another level you can capture video of any moment you want - like taking down several enemies with a single blow - and share these images with anyone on Xbox Live, to prove how super-duper dorky cool you are.